jaw

Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Medical, Acronyms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.

Like this video? Subscribe to our free daily email and get a new idiom video every day!

jaw

slang

1. noun An impudent answer or response; back talk. A: "Tommy, please clean your room." B: "Go clean it yourself!" A: "Give me jaw like that again and I'll tan your hide!"

2. noun Idle conversation; chit-chat. Would you two give the jaw a rest and get to work already?

3. verb To talk or chat, often idly, excessively, or at length. Those two could spend all morning jawing about celebrity gossip. OK, everyone stop jawing so we can get this meeting started.

4. verb To talk, lecture, or preach. OK, everyone, I know I've been jawing at you all morning, so why don't we take a short break? She spent the whole evening jawing at me about her boring research on insect biology.

jaw

verb

See jawbone

jaw

1. n. a chat. I could use a good jaw with my old friend.

2. in. to chat. Stop jawing and get to work.

3. Go to jaw(bone).

jaw(bone)

tv. to try to persuade someone verbally; to apply verbal pressure to someone. They tried to jawbone me into doing it.

See:

References in classic literature ?

Matt took hold of White Fang, ready to pull when Cherokee's jaws should be loosened.

But that did not loosen the jaws. Cherokee wagged the stump of his tail in advertisement that he understood the meaning of the blows, but that he knew he was himself in the right and only doing his duty by keeping his grip.

The other reached into the holster at his hip, drew his revolver, and tried to thrust its muzzle between the bull-dog's jaws. He shoved, and shoved hard, till the grating of the steel against the locked teeth could be distinctly heard.

He had managed to get the muzzle in between the jaws on one side, and was trying to get it out between the jaws on the other side.

His jaws were apart, and through them the tongue protruded, draggled and limp.

View in context

The thing might easily have risen out of my reach, but evidently it knew as little concerning retreat in the face of danger as either Woola or I, for it dropped quickly toward me, and before I could escape had grasped my shoulder between its powerful jaws.

With a convulsive shudder the thing stiffened, the jaws relaxed, dropping me to the ground, and then, careening once in mid air, the creature plunged headforemost to the road, full upon Woola, who still clung tenaciously to its gory head.

View in context

Slowly, I scratched about his ears and neck and down beneath the fierce jaws. The only sign he gave was to raise his chin a trifle that I might better caress him.

As I did so he turned and looked up into my face, his jaws parting and his red tongue lolling as you have seen your own dog's beneath a love pat.

View in context

TMJ disorders may limit your ability to open your mouth, cause your jaw to lock, and affect how your upper and lower teeth fit together.

Answers to questions about TMJ disorder

Ever dreamed about getting a beautiful smile, which can also heal your body pain while also correcting a misaligned jaw position?

Body pain? How to smile it away

Apex Tool Group, a tool manufacturer, is launching its new Crescent(R) Wide Jaw Adjustable Wrenches.

Apex Tool to launch new Crescent(R) Wide Jaw Adjustable Wrenches

3254 Jaw Plant 13'-11"x11'-11"x50'-2" 16'-7"x11'-6"x52'-11"

McLanahan (Universal)

According to Cat, the design also boosts productivity with patent-pending features, such as a new jaw locking system and the Speed Booster valve.